Video management apparatus and video management method for selecting video information based on a similarity degree

Abstract

A video management apparatus includes a video database for holding a plurality of pieces of video information each associated with an image position, a geographic information database for holding a plurality of pieces of geographic information each indicating a position of a different one of spots on a map, and a controller. The controller extracts spots located within a first range from a current position as a first spot group, based on the current position and the plurality of pieces of geographic information. Further, the controller extracts spots located within a second range from the image position as a second spot group, based on the image position and the plurality of pieces of geographic information. Then, the controller selects video information from the plurality of pieces of video information, based on a similarity degree of the second spot group with respect to the first spot group.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A video management apparatus comprising:
 a video database configured to store a plurality of pieces of video information each associated with an image position; 
 a geographic information database configured to store a plurality of pieces of geographic information each indicating a position of a different one of spots on a map; 
 an interface configured to obtain a current position; and 
 a controller configured to:
 extract spots located within a first range from the current position as a first spot group, based on the current position and the plurality of pieces of geographic information, 
 extract spots located within a second range from the image position as a second spot group, based on the image position, the plurality of pieces of geographic information and the current position, 
 select video information from the plurality of pieces of video information, based on a similarity degree of the second spot group with respect to the first spot group, and 
 generate a command signal for displaying the selected video information on a display device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The video management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the current position and the image position includes an altitude, and 
 the first range and the second range are calculated based on the altitude. 
 
     
     
       3. The video management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the first range and the second range is set by a circle whose radius is a horizon distance obtained by equation (1) below by using a radius of an earth when the earth is assumed to be a sphere and the altitude, 
 
       [Expression 1]
     D =√{square root over (2 Rh+h   2 )}  (1)
 
 
       where
 D: denotes the horizon distance 
 R: denotes the radius of the earth when the earth is assumed to be the sphere, and 
 h: denotes the altitude. 
 
     
     
       4. The video management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the similarity degree is determined by a number of spots which the second spot group includes and shares with the first spot group. 
     
     
       5. The video management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of pieces of geographic information include information indicating an importance degree associated with the spots, and 
 the controller calculates the similarity degree based on the importance degree. 
 
     
     
       6. The video management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the video information is at least one of a plurality of video frames. 
 
     
     
       7. A video management apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to acquire a plurality of pieces of video information each associated with an image position and a plurality of pieces of geographic information each indicating a position of a different one of spots on a map and a current position; and 
 a controller configured to:
 extract spots located within a first range from the current position as a first spot group, based on the current position and the plurality of pieces of geographic information, 
 extract spots located within a second range from the image position as a second spot group, based on the image position, the plurality of pieces of geographic information and the current position, 
 select video information from the plurality of pieces of video information, based on a similarity degree of the second spot group with respect to the first spot group, and 
 generate a command signal for displaying the selected video information on a display device. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The video management apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the current position and the image position includes an altitude, and 
 the first range and the second range are calculated based on the altitude. 
 
     
     
       9. The video management apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 each of the first range and the second range is set by a circle whose radius is a horizon distance obtained by equation (1) below by using a radius of an earth when the earth is assumed to be a sphere and the altitude, 
 
       [Expression 1]
     D =√{square root over (2 Rh+h   2 )}  (1)
 
 
       where
 D: denotes the horizon distance 
 R: denotes the radius of the earth when the earth is assumed to be the sphere, and 
 h: denotes the altitude. 
 
     
     
       10. The video management apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the similarity degree is determined by a number of spots which the second spot group includes and shares with the first spot group. 
     
     
       11. The video management apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the plurality of pieces of geographic information include information indicating an importance degree associated with the spots, and 
 the controller calculates the similarity degree based on the importance degree. 
 
     
     
       12. The video management apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the video information is at least one of a plurality of video frames. 
 
     
     
       13. A video management method comprising:
 obtaining a current position; 
 extracting spots located within a first range from the current position as a first spot group, based on the current position and a plurality of pieces of geographic information each indicating a position of a different one of spots on a map; 
 extracting spots located within a second range from an image position as a second spot group, based on the image position, the plurality of pieces of geographic information and the current position, the image position being associated with each of a plurality of pieces of video information; 
 selecting video information from the plurality of pieces of video information based on a similarity degree of the second spot group with respect to the first spot group; and 
 generating a command signal for displaying the selected video information on a display device. 
 
     
     
       14. The video management method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the video information is at least one of a plurality of video frames.